Holi Hai...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of the myriad colorful festivals that India celebrates – “Holi” is the one that personifies iridescence – literally.  It is characterized by the very popular play of colors

The festival gives people a chance to paint the town colourful and envelope it in good cheer. People take immense pleasure in daubing paint on each other’s faces to the extent that they become unrecognizable.

This ritual finds its root way back in the era of the Hindu God – Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna often complained to his mother about the Radha’s fair complexion against His darker tone. To pacify the crying young Krishna, the doting mother asked him to go and colour Radha's face.In a mischievous mood, naughty Krishna smeared Radha's face with colour.

As this tradition is native to Mathura, (also the birthplace of Lord Krishna)it is the most happening place at this time of the year . Here the celebrations continue for over a week as each major Krishna temple celebrates Holi on a different day.

Of immense interest for the tourist is the celebrations which take place at the famous Bakai-Bihari Temple at Vrindavan. Drenched in the colours of Holi people can be found totally immersed in the spirit of devotion here.

Of course each state of India celebrates the festival with equal vigour & follows its respective traditions.

However, Being a Gujarati I’m biased to the HOLI celebration in Gujarat- where it assumes a higher degree of joy and celebration.

On the eve of Holi, a bonfire decorated with flowers and fruits is lit with a fire brought from the temple of Mata. People offer raw mangoes, coconut, toys made of sugar, khoya to the 'Holika' as referred t o in myhtology.

The next day, The state wakes up to the chants of 'Govinda ala re'. This day, called Dhuleti, is reserved for the play of colours.

In addition to this, the state is famous for the tradition of breaking earthen pot full of buttermilk and tied high on a rope. A human pyramid is formed in order to reach the pot.

During the whole of this day the famous holi drink –thandai or  “bhang” as it is called in Gujarat & “malpuas” – a traditional gujarati delicacy is supplied in copious amounts.

Holi in itself carries a very important social message - The color and water is symbolic of washing away all the man made distinctions based on caste, creed, and other differences created by the society. Holi in India is one of the most socially connecting and enjoyable festivals.

Here’s wishing all of you a brightly hued HOLI!!!! 

Happy Holi.

Rikta Doshi

A Librarywala fan.

 

The Adventures of reading a Book

        

Have you ever wondered what that paperback sitting idly on your book-shelf is capable of? How a copy of the “Othello”  can relocate you from India to Italy – more so from a modern setting to a medieval backdrop replete with animated characters.

Isn’t it just amazing how a naive looking “Anne Frank’s Diary”  can prove to be a time-travelling machine?

Have you observed such a reader who is captivated in a book and  taking this travel?? The way she feels each of the thumbed yellow pages – devours the unmistakable smell of an old book – the expression of contentment on entering a second hand book-store. It makes her feel at home in the company of other like minded people who allow themselves to be consumed by the text of Neruda, Patterson and numerous others....

The non-reader may find this behaviour eccentric but thats only till he takes a plunge into the world of books himself  the magic casts a spell on him too.

The world is filled with people who find a tremendous connect with books - there are scores of people who have spent their painful adolescence absorbed in a book- connected to a fictional character and called them brother or sister.

Its books that helped them drag through – that kept them going and helped their transition into wonderful adults.

There are numerous women who fantasize marrying Fitzwilliam Darcy from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and even more is the number   of kids who secretly believe that they possess magical powers and await a letter from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Reading the right kind of books at the right age helps a person develop at an appropriate pace in the correct direction.

They shape the reader’s personality to a great extent – and there are no two ways about it. If the concept is reasonable, the script is sound , the plot-gripping and language- coherent, there is nothing that can stop the book from creating a storm in the reader’s mind.

Ask an avid, habituated reader and you’ll know that reading a good book is nothing less than a refreshing escapade into the unexplored land of an age-old era.

So, the next time the adventure mood hits you and you want to try something less conventional – you know exactly what to lay your hands on :)


LibrarywalaBlogs


Image source: www.spiritualriver.com

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Our 15 year-old fan and an avid reader shares her thoughts on “Little Women”

Genre: Drama

Our Say: - Wonderful read for early teenagers

My Favourite Book

Books are our companions. They are always with us. Whenever I am alone, frightened or sad I read a book and after finishing it I am happy again.  I have many books but ‘Little Women’ is my favourite book. The author is Louisa May Alcott.  In this book there are four sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy. Their father is in the army and at the present is fighting in the Civil War. The family is not too well in financial matters. The story is about the four sisters who lead interesting lives despite of their problems. They and their friend Laurie who lives next door are the main characters. Their love, sadness, enjoyment and fear of their father, Mr. March is set so beautifully in the book that readers will find themselves feeling what the March girls feel.

The movie Little Women (1994) is based on  the book

This is my favourite book because this book helps me understand my duties to my siblings and parents. Mrs. March is a very kindly person who always takes the right decision. She not only gives her daughters but me too good advice.  There are many situations in the book which girls face. The book helps me be aware and tells me the decision I should take in such situations.

Archita Mitra